Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 PNEWFC

PNE Women were knocked out of the FA Women’s Cup at the third round stage after a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Alice Forshaw’s first half goal was ruled out in controversial circumstances before Sarah Chadwick added a consolation late on for PNE to reduce the deficit.

Spurs started the game on the attack and created a chance within the opening ten minutes but Beth Stanfield did well to block Bianca Baptiste’s effort from close range.

PNE goalkeeper Danielle Brown was called into action in the tenth minute to deny Katie O’Leary before captain Laura Walker cleared off the line as O’Leary pounced on the rebound.

The best chance of the opening 20 minutes fell to the home side in the 14th minute but right back Lucia Leon couldn’t divert her header towards goal despite only being a few yards out.

The Lilywhites were dealing with the pressure well and thought they had taken the lead ten minutes later only to be denied by the assistant referee on the far side.

Forshaw took a short corner and received the ball back off Holly Rawcliffe before whipping in a first time cross that sailed over the head of Spurs goalkeeper Toni-Ann Wayne.

As the PNE celebrations began, the referee spotted his assistant’s flag up, and, after lengthy discussions, ruled the goal out, much to the dismay of the North End players.

Brown pulled off an impressive save to keep the scores level in the 35th minute as she acrobatically tipped over Avilla Bergin’s effort but she was unable to prevent Spurs taking the lead six minutes later.

The ball fell kindly to Maya Vio outside of the area and her first time shot sailed into the back of the net with the assistance of the strong wind at the New River Stadium.

Spurs’ lead was doubled thirteen minutes into the second half against the run of play.

O’Leary spotted Brown off her line and placed the ball into the back of the net from 25 yards to make it 2-0.

The home side extended their lead in the 62nd minute as their top goalscorer Wendy Martin added her name to the scoresheet.

Full back Sophie McLean burst down the left hand side and pulled the ball back for Martin who applied the finish for 3-0.

A third goal in quick succession followed seven minutes later as Spurs as good as killed the game off with just twenty minutes left to play.

The impressive Bergin broke into the area and back-heeled the ball to Vio, who had an easy finish from three yards out to grab her second of the game.

PNE attacked from the off after seeing the score-line turn to 4-0 and came close almost immediately through Chadwick.

The Preston-born youngster received the ball with her back to goal before turning and getting a shot away, only to see it hit the outside of the post and bounce out for a goal kick.

The Lilywhites continued their waves of attacks and came close again in the 79th minute through top goalscorer Chelsea Flanagan.

The former Manchester City striker found space on the edge of the area and unleashed a shot towards the top corner that was tipped onto the bar by Wayne and out for a corner which came to nothing.

PNE’s constant pressure finally paid off with six minutes to play as Chadwick added her sixth goal of the season.

She chased down and blocked Wayne’s kick and slid the ball into an empty net to reduce the deficit to three goals.

However, Spurs were able to restore their four goal lead with just a minute to play as Leon made up for her earlier miss by squeezing in a near post shot to end the scoring and end a torrid day in the capital for PNE.